Folding table



H. S. LEE.

(No Model.)

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 415,841. Patented Nov. 26, 1889 ag J(sf/33 d i v 5;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HARRY S. LEE, OF TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,841, dated November26. 1889.

Application filed May 4, i889. Serial No. 309,560. (No model.)

To all zuhont it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY S. LEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tecumseh, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to folding tables of that class wherein the legsare adapted to be folded beneath the table-top in order to allow thewhole to be set up against the wall out of. the way, or entirelydetached and removed therefrom in order that the top may be used as alap-board; and the invention consists, broadly, of a top, a pair ofouter legs detachably hinged to the under side thereof, a second innerpair of legs connected to each other by longitudinal braces, one ofwhich is extended at its ends beyond the said inner legs and forms thepivot between the inner and outer legs at their points of crossing, abar connecting the upper ends of said inner legs, and blocks on theunder side of the table-top, with which said bar is adapted to'bedetachably engaged to look all of said legs in distended position.

The invention further consists of certain details of construction andarrangements of the parts mentioned, whereby the table complete isrendered light, serviceable, and easy of operation.

The following specification describes and the accompanying drawingsillustrate What I consider the best method of carrying out my invention.

In the said drawings, wherein the same letters of reference are appliedto corresponding parts throughout the several views, Fig ure 1 is aperspective view of the under side of the table when in its. openextended position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same closed, andFig. 3 is a central transverse section thereof.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, T designates the top of myimproved table, to the under side of which, near its ends, are securedtransverse cleats 0, each cleat being provided near one end with acurved slot 0, extending inwardly and downwardly and opening through thelower edge of the cleat at c O are the outer legs, of which there is oneat each end of the table. Each outer leg has a bolt 0 extendingtransversely through its upper end and adapted to engage one of theslots 0. The body of each outer leg stands against the inner face of itsadjacent cleat O, and is adapted to just clear said face when the leg isin its folded position, as shown in Fig. 2.

I are the inner legs, of which there is one at each end of the tablejust inside each outer leg, and said inner legs are connected rigidlyand firmly by braces B and B, the upper brace B being extended throughthe body of the inner leg at each end and journaled in the body of theadjacent outer leg; or, if preferred, a bolt, screw, or pin may beemployed, which passes through the two legs and extends into the end ofthe said upper brace. The braces B and B are preferably connected atsuitable points throughout their length by vertical rods V for furtherbracing the whole and to give an ornamental appearance thereto.

R is a bar, preferably square in cross-Section, and which is rigidlyconnected at its ends to the upper ends of the inner legs I. This bar isso arranged that when the table is in its distended position one fiatface thereof will rest firmly and squarely against the lower face of thetop T, as seen in Fig. 3.

K are blocks secured to the lower face of the top and cut away orrecessed on their i11- ner faces, so as to receive the bar R, andpivoted to the lower face of each block K is a button N, all as willappear in the drawings and will be obvious to a person skilled in theart Without a more explicit description.

The uses and adaptability of my improved folding table are as follows:The said table being in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, ifnow it is desired to close the same the upper ends of the inner legs Iare grasped by the operator and pressed inwardly toward the center ofthe table, whereby the bar R is disengaged from the recesses in theblocks K. A further pressure upon the said upper ends carries the bar Rinto alignment with the upper ends of the outer legs 0. The four legsare then folded against the under face of the top T and the buttons Nturned on their pivots, so that one end thereof will engage the body ofthe inner legs, and theoperation is finished, the table then occupyingthe position illustrated in Fig. 2. To again open the table,theoperation is reversed. WVhen in its folded position, the operator maysometimes desire to use the table-top as a lapboard, and this may beaccomplished by closing the buttons N and then drawing the fourlegsdownwardly, whereby the bolts 0 in the upper ends of the outer legs0 will be drawn out of the open ends 0' of the curved slots 0 and thelegs will be entirely disengaged from the top.

I claim as the salient points of my invention-- In a table, the top T,the transverse cleats 0 near the ends thereof upon its under side, saidcleats having inwardly-curved slots 0 near one end opening at theirinner lower ends 0 through the lower faces of said cleats, and theblocks K, secured to the under side of said top between the other endsof said cleats, in combination with a pair of outer legs 0, bolts 0through their upper ends adapted to make removable connection with saidcurved slots, and a pair of inner legs I, pivoted at their centers tothe centers of said outer legs and detachably connected at their upperends with said blocks, the whole adapted for use as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY S. LEE.

' Vitnesses.

OSCAR P. BILLS, WALTER O. BURRIDGE.

